Jennifer Lopez swears by these vitamins, but should you buy them, too? An expert weighs in.

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 20:  Jennifer Lopez attends the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on August 20, 2018 in New York City.  (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 20: Jennifer Lopez attends the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on August 20, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic) (Jeff Kravitz via Getty Images)

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be challenging to navigate — especially considering the influx of products on the market that swear they are the solutions to all your body’s needs. Enter the celebrity endorsed vitamin. With stars like Jennifer Lopez promoting Goli Gummies and Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop selling a line of cleverly titled supplements, you may wonder if it’s worth trying such items yourself. Can the right vitamin or supplement really provide us with more energy, a stronger immune system and glowing skin? After all, it certainly seems like Lopez and Paltrow — as well as a slew of other celebrities promoting similar products — are thriving with their current vitamin routine.

The answer? It’s not quite so simple.

“Many celebrities will team with reputable scientists and companies to produce a well-balanced supplement,” says Uma Naidoo, MD, a Harvard-trained nutritional psychiatrist, professional chef and nutrition specialist, and author of the best seller This is Your Brain on Food. “However, a consumer may misperceive the health and wellness of a celebrity to be obtained through the product they are endorsing.”

Basically? We can’t assume that it’s just vitamins and supplements that make J.Lo, well, J.Lo.

Dr. Naidoo explains, “A closer look at a celebrity’s lifestyle may reveal much more of a holistic approach to health such as a super healthy diet, daily workouts with a special trainer or omitting alcohol from their diet.”

And while stars aren’t exactly like us, Dr. Naidoo points out that there are certain situations where a vitamin or supplement may be a good idea to add into one’s daily routine.

“It is a challenge for people to fend off the effects of pollution, environmental stress, emotional stress, insomnia and other factors, which also impact our optimal health,” she says. “In addition, food allergies, food preferences or even any underlying medical condition may lead to a deficiency in a certain vitamin or mineral. Hence supplemental vitamins may be necessary to fill in the nutritional gaps and to help individuals meet the RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowances) each day.”

Yet there’s a limit to how much they can do.

“Supplements are never a replacement for a healthy diet,” she stresses. “Just like you can’t exercise out of a bad diet, you can’t supplement your way out of a bad diet either.”

While vitamins and supplements are not regulated by the FDA, typically, Dr. Naidoo explains, there is not much harm associated with taking celebrity-endorsed products, “other than unnecessarily spending money based on that endorsement if one does not require that supplement.”

Regardless, she advises to always consult one’s doctor before starting a new vitamin or supplement — who will have a much better idea of what you need for your lifestyle than your favorite celeb.

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